STEVENS POINT – Today, Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) announced that at the most recent meeting of the UW-Stevens Point Academic Representation Council (SPARC – AFTW Local 6505), she was awarded the “Higher Education Hero Award” in recognition of her outstanding work on higher education issues in Wisconsin.
“Rep. Shankland is committed to public higher education in the state of Wisconsin, and to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point,” said Nerissa Nelson, Co-President of SPARC. “Her record of higher education bills she has authored proves she works tirelessly for us. She is a role model legislator and champion, and she truly embodies the term leader.”
Rep. Shankland released the following statement in response:
“I am truly honored to receive this award from SPARC, and I remain as committed as ever to advocating for UW-Stevens Point, UW System, and the campus community. Stevens Point, Portage County, and Central Wisconsin are deeply enriched by UW-Stevens Point’s contributions to our economy, culture, and community, and that’s why I’ve focused so heavily on higher education issues in the Legislature. I’ve been proud to work alongside SPARC on many issues impacting higher education in our state and look forward to continuing our work together.”
Rep. Shankland serves as the ranking member on the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, and has introduced many bipartisan higher education bills during her time in the State Assembly, including:
o The six-bill “Reaching Higher for Higher Education” Legislative Package
o Legislation to provide funding for the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology
o Legislation from the Water Quality Task Force to invest $900,000 in UWSP’s Center for Watershed Science and Education.
o Legislation from the Water Quality Task Force to fund and support the UW System Freshwater Collaborative
